Township Watch – August 2020
The following index should help you in locating an article of particular interest General Finance Committee Restoration of Portage Landing Park Council Solar Speed Sign in Bala KEE to Bala [...]
2020 Yearbook
In previous years, the Muskoka Ratepayers’ Yearbook has been produced by Unique Publishing Inc, publishers of Unique Muskoka. Unfortunately, with the current COVID-19 pandemic, this was not possible this year. Instead, for 2020, a digital version has been produced. The cover illustrates the beauty of Muskoka, and includes a spectacular sunset over Bass Lake, the passing of the ...
Township Watch – July 2020
The following index should help you in locating an article of particular interest General/Finance Committee Currie Street Parking COVID-19 Pandemic Property Tax Assistant Emergency Services Annual Activity Report 2019 Council [...]
Township Watch – June 2020
The following index should help you in locating an article of particular interest General/Finance Committee Asset Management Plan Port Sandfield Bridge Closure Littering in the Township The KEE to Bala [...]
Township Watch – May 2020
The following index should help you in locating an article of particular interest Committee of the Whole - Friday, May 1st, 2020 2020 Budget Deliberations Special Council - Wednesday, May [...]
Ratepayers Comments on 2020 Budget
The following comments from the Muskoka Ratepayers were sent to Township Council after the release of draft 1 of the Township budget. The Park's Department Capital budget includes $420,000 for [...]
Township Watch – April 2020
The following index should help you in locating an article of particular interest Special Council Meeting - Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 By-Law Officer & Property Standards Officer Appointment Moon River [...]
Thank You To Our Service Providers
As we experience the impact of the pandemic on our individual lives and families, our fears and our health, it is essential to follow the government mandated protocols of isolation, [...]
Township Watch – March 2020
Correction On Monday, March 23rd, 2020 the Muskoka Ratepayers circulated a Keeping You Informed with a newsletter by Barb Bridgeman. We acknowledge that Barb's name was inadvertently spelled incorrectly. We [...]
Township Watch – February 2020
The following index should help you in locating an article of particular interest Bubblers Staff Council Bin Site Transition Planning Procedural By-Law/Council & Committee Structure/Meeting Schedule Strategic Plan Goal Setting [...]
Township Watch – January 2020
The following index should help you in locating an article of particular interest Council Swift River Capital Budget Requests Process General/Finance Committee Onlne Waitlist Project Alternate Fire Coordinator Planning Committee [...]
Economic Snapshots – Winter 2019 / 2020
This edition is devoted to the recently released major review of the flood events that occurred in the Spring of 2019. Flooding in our Township can have a major impact [...]
Bubbler Etiquette
Important Safety Considerations for Bubblers With the temperature dropping, our thoughts turn to preparing our cottages for the cold and snow to come. For some, this means closing up the [...]
Economic Snapshots – Summer 2019
2018 Township Building Activity Overview Construction of homes, cottages, and commercial buildings is important to everyone who has an interest in the economy of our Township. Construction projects create meaningful [...]
A Letter of Thanks to the Township of Muskoka Lakes
May 28, 2019 The residents of the Township of Muskoka Lakes owe a big thank you to the Township for their actions during the recent flooding. The team led by [...]
Ratepayers Comments on 2019 Budget – Draft 1
Good Evening. My name is Mike Webb and I am commenting on the Township's 2019 budget on behalf of the Muskoka Ratepayers' Association. Budget deliberations are difficult, and the Ratepayers’ [...]
TML Budget 2019 – Update – Feb 11, 2019
A Special Committee of the Whole was held on Monday, February 11th, 2019 to review Version 2 of the Draft 2019 Budget. t the beginning of the meeting the budget [...]
Economic Snapshots – Budget 2019
At the Special Committee of the Whole meeting on January 22nd, 2019 Treasurer, Shannon Johnson introduced Version 1 of the Township's Draft Budget. Treasurer Johnson explained she saw no challenges [...]
Budget 2019 – First Draft
Treasurer Shannon Johnson presented Version 1 of the 2019 Township of Muskoka Lakes budget to the Committee of the Whole on January 22, 2019. Ms. Johnson stated that the Township [...]
Economic Snapshots – Winter 2019
After we issued the previous Economic Snapshot which discussed how tax rates compare across the District, some of our members told us that they would like to see a broader [...]
Economic Snapshots – Fall 2018
Can the upcoming election improve our lives in Muskoka? We sure hope so, isn’t that why we vote in the first place? This is an election year for our municipal [...]
The Muskoka Ratepayers Association And Development
It has often been said that no community can stand still. It either moves forward or it slides back. We at the Muskoka Ratepayers' Association believe that the Township of [...]
Candidate Endorsement
August 23. 2018 The Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association Stance on Candidate Endorsement The Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association (MRA) works hard to keep members informed about the activities of the Township of Muskoka [...]
MRA Letter to Council – June 2018
Friday, June 1st, 2018 Dear Mayor and Councillors, The MRA has traditionally been, and continues to be focused on the economic growth of our community, the social vibrancy of the [...]
Elections – Call For Candidates
Elections for our Township and District governments will be held this October. Have you thought about running for office to serve your community?The Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association is calling on those [...]
Economic Snapshots – Spring 2018
Building activities continue to be one of the largest economic activities in the Township of Muskoka Lakes. In 2017 the value of all construction permits issued in the Township was [...]
Muskoka Etiquette
Here are a few suggestions from the Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association on what we consider to be good “cottage etiquette” when enjoying your Muskoka vacation property. Basically, this simply means … [...]
MRA 2018 TML Budget Comments
Good Evening, I am pleased to have this opportunity to offer you the thoughts of the Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association with regards to the proposed Township Budget. First let me thank [...]
Economic Snapshots – Fall 2017
December 2017 This past summer the Township of Muskoka Lakes (TML) asked its citizens for feedback regarding its service levels. The Township conducted a survey and public meetings to learn [...]
Commercial Resort Properties – Comments
November 14, 2017 The District Municipality of Muskoka (the District) has, for more than a year, been undertaking a public review process for the updating of its Official Plan (OP). [...]
Alert – OPP Costs in the Township
August 8, 2017 IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND HOW YOU CAN HELP In 2014, the Government of Ontario created a new funding formula for OPP services. Of the 323 municipalities in Ontario, [...]
MRA – 2017 Annual General Meeting
The MRA held its 56th Annual General Meeting on Saturday, July 15th, 2017 at the Port Carling Community Centre. A crowd of approximately 90 individuals heard two minute presentations from [...]
Did You Know? About the Health Hub??
Hello Everyone: We hope everyone has a safe and healthy summer – but just in case...... With the arrival of summer, we thought it would be timely to let you [...]
A Muskoka Walk In The Woods – Look for Spring Ephemerals!
When I was a little girl, a highlight of early spring, was a visit to “the cabin”, near Greenwood, Ontario and a hike with Aunt Lorene. My cousins and I [...]
Economic Snapshots – Spring 2017
The building industry in the Township of Muskoka Lakes is important to all of us. It is collectively the largest employer in the Township. In order to better appreciate all [...]
Bala Falls – Small Hydro Electric Project – 2017
Overview In 2005 in response to a Request For Proposal (RFP) from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Swift River Energy Limited (SREL) submitted a proposal to construct and operate [...]
In Memoriam – Madeline Fielding
In Memoriam - Madeline Fielding - Past President and Long TIme MRA Director If only one observation could be made about Madeline – it would be that she loved Muskoka. [...]
Municipal Conflict Of Interest Act
November 7, 2016 The strange, unprecedented and unacceptable behaviour of Councillor Ruth Nishikawa has brought new focus to the good governance of the Township of Muskoka Lakes, particularly over the [...]
Beware of Japanese Knotweed
Further to the Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association “Did You Know” of July 23rd, 2015 (Japanese Knotweed and Other Information) relating to Japanese Knotweed, it has come to our attention that the [...]
MRA – 2015 Annual General Meeting
July 18, 2015 Port Carling About 90 people were on hand for the 54th Annual General Meeting of the Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association (MRA) Saturday at the Port Carling Community Centre. [...]
Japanese Knotweed and Other Interesting Information
May 2015 ... that Japanese Knotweed is a problem in Muskoka? There is plant slowly marching through Muskoka that the Muskoka Ratepayers’ were recently made aware of…Japanese Knotweed. It is [...]
Township of Muskoka Lakes – 100 Day Report Card
The Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association (MRA) is pleased once again to provide our observations of the newly elected Township of Muskoka Lakes Council. With the election of a new mayor, Muskoka [...]
Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2014-14
The new Comprehensive Zoning By-Law (2014-14) was passed in a recorded vote of six to three at the February 13 Council meeting, and the period to appeal the by-law ended [...]
Planes Crash Into Lake Muskoka – A True Story
During the Second World War, Camp Borden near Barrie was one of the main centres used as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. On December 12, 1940, during [...]
Best Suggested Operating Practices for Dock & Boat House De-icer Systems
Just because your neighbours’ have installed a de-icer system, that does not necessarily mean that you also need one. If your property is located off the main body of a [...]
TML – Inaugural Council Meeting
December 1st, 2014 was a day of inaugural meetings for municipal councils across the Province of Ontario. The inaugural council meeting in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, held in the [...]
MRA Election Commentary
MRA Election Commentary The 2014 Township of Muskoka Lakes election results are now certified, and the outcome declared. While a number of incumbents were returned, there will be three new [...]
2014 Election Results – Township of Muskoka Lakes
2014 Election Results - Township of Muskoka Lakes The following candidates have been elected to the Council of the Township of Muskoka Lakes: Mayor - Don Furniss Ward A: District [...]
Reaction to Ethics Matter Newsletter
Reaction to Ethics Matter Newsletter The reaction to a newsletter and article that the MRA published the evening of October 9th has been swift and positive. Some of the comments [...]
Ethics Matter – Election Slates
Election Slates The MRA has a long history of working with and, as appropriate, supporting the MLA, the senior organization, on community initiatives that they have undertaken. We hold the [...]